Kisii: Man who hacked two daughters to death declared fit to stand trial

A Kisii man accused of killing his two daughters in cold blood is mentally competent to stand trial, a psychological evaluation conducted on him on Wednesday revealed.

Nelson Ontita was arrested in Kiobegi area of Nyamache sub-county last week after his wife discovered the bodies of the deceased, aged 10 months and two years, dumped in a maize plantation adjacent to her residence.

The children had been left in the care of their patriarch on the day of their demise.

Prosecution counsel Ian Mukusi asked Ogembo Law Courts to hold the suspect, who had been arrested under a miscellaneous application, for 14 more days to allow for further investigations.

According to Mukusi, investigators have since taken statements from a number of witnesses including the suspect's parents and have sent out a panga and a blood-stained trouser as well as a pair of sandals recovered from the suspected murder scene for forensic testing in Kisumu.

The forensic experts have also collected DNA samples from under the fingernails of the two children to establish whether they match those of the suspect.

According to Mukusi, the prosecution intends to drop the initial miscellaneous charge leveled against Ontinta for murder.

The move is however subject to approval by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).

The case will be heard on January 23, 2022.